Alien Characters In Movies

From Ridley Scott, starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright
Rated R

Alien is a science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979. The story follows the crew of the space-tug Nostromo, who are returning home from a mining mission to the outer reaches of space. Along the way, they encounter a mysterious and hostile alien life form that infiltrates the ship, quickly killing crew members one by one. The sole survivor, warrant officer Ellen Ripley, must battle the creature to save her own life and the lives of her crewmates. The film was praised for its psychological horror, intense atmosphere, and groundbreaking special effects, and it spawned a number of sequels and spin-offs.

From James Cameron, starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser
Rated R

Aliens is a science fiction action horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1986. The film follows Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor of the destroyed spaceship Nostromo, as she is rescued after drifting through space for 57 years. After being brought back to Earth, she discovers that the planet LV-426, where the Nostromo encountered a hostile alien, has been colonized. Ripley rejoins a team of marines who are sent to investigate the colony, only to discover a massive horde of aliens. With the help of the marines, Ripley battles her way through the alien horde in a desperate attempt to save the colonists and destroy the aliens. Along the way, she finds a new ally in the android Bishop and discovers the true reasons behind the aliens' presence. Aliens is a thrilling, action-packed story of survival against overwhelming odds.

From John Carpenter, starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur
Rated R

The Thing (1982) is a science-fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter. It is a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The movie is set in a remote Antarctic research station, where a group of American researchers discover a hostile extraterrestrial lifeform that assimilates and imitates other organisms. As the members of the station become increasingly suspicious of each other, they must find a way to stop the alien before it can spread to the rest of the world. With intense suspense and chilling special effects, The Thing is a classic of the horror genre.

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg
Rated PG-13

Arrival is a 2016 science fiction film directed by Denis Villeneuve which stars Amy Adams as Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist tasked with deciphering the language of extraterrestrial lifeforms who have suddenly appeared at twelve locations around the world. Working with physicist Ian Donnelly, played by Jeremy Renner, Louise must learn the aliens’ language in order to figure out why they have come to Earth. As she makes progress, Louise also begins to experience visions of her daughter, who has yet to be born. In the end, she discovers that the aliens are trying to teach humanity how to avoid a devastating global war. The film explores themes of communication, self-reflection and fate, and has been praised for its thought-provoking story and stunning visuals.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote, Dee Wallace
Rated PG

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is the story of a young boy, Elliott (Henry Thomas), who discovers an alien visitor on Earth. Elliott and his siblings, Gertie (Drew Barrymore) and Michael (Robert MacNaughton), soon befriend the alien and help him hide from the government agents that are searching for him. As the government agents get closer, Elliott, Gertie and Michael come up with a plan to help E.T. return home. With Elliott's help, E.T. is able to make phone calls across the universe in order to contact his ship and eventually make his way home. Along the way, Elliott, Gertie and Michael learn the importance of friendship and family, and the power of kindness and trust.

From Neill Blomkamp, starring Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope, Nathalie Boltt
Rated R

District 9 is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. The film is set in a near-future South Africa where extraterrestrial refugees, known as "prawns", have been relocated to a slum called District 9. The protagonist, Wikus Van De Merwe, is an employee of Multi-National United (MNU) charged with relocating the aliens to a new camp. His transformation into an alien begins when he is exposed to an alien chemical substance. As he learns more about the aliens and their plight, he begins to sympathize with them and helps them battle against MNU. The film is a commentary on real-world racism and xenophobia. District 9 received critical acclaim, winning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.

From Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson
Rated PG-13

Edge of Tomorrow is a 2014 science fiction action film directed by Doug Liman. The film stars Tom Cruise as Major William Cage, a public relations officer who is forced to fight in a war against aliens known as Mimics. After dying in combat, Major Cage finds himself in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over again. With the help of Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), Cage must use his newfound knowledge of the future to win the war. As he is forced to confront the same deadly battle, Cage discovers that the war against the Mimics is not as hopeless as it seems. Together, they must find a way to defeat the aliens and end the war before its destruction of Earth is complete.

From John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Elpidia Carrillo
Rated R

Predator is a sci-fi action movie directed by John McTiernan and released in 1987. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer, a special forces team leader sent on a mission in South America to rescue hostages held by guerilla fighters. Unexpectedly, Dutch and his team are being hunted by a technologically advanced alien lifeform that is testing its combat skills against the human race. With the help of an enigmatic mercenary, Dutch and his team must face the Predator in an all-out battle amidst the jungle. But no one can prepare them for the ultimate hunt they’re about to endure, as the Predator has come to Earth to prove its superiority.

From Don Siegel, starring Kevin McCarthy, Dana Wynter, Larry Gates, King Donovan
Rated Approved

Invasion of the Body Snatchers is a 1956 science fiction horror film directed by Don Siegel. The plot follows Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy) as he discovers that alien pod plants have taken over the bodies of several of his patients in the small California town of Santa Mira. He and his girlfriend Becky (Dana Wynter) soon come to realize that the entire town is under threat from a mass alien invasion and must find a way to stop it. With the help of Jack Belicec (King Donovan) and Teddy Belicec (Carolyn Jones), Miles learns to identify the alien replicants and works to save the town from the alien invaders.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Teri Garr, Melinda Dillon
Rated PG

Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 American science fiction film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg. The plot revolves around Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO). After the encounter, Roy becomes obsessed with a mountain-like formation and attempts to reach it. He is joined by a group of scientists and other people similarly affected by close encounters with UFOs. Together, they travel to the site and make contact with aliens from another planet. The film explores themes of communication, faith, and human nature. The film was a box office success, earning Spielberg his first Academy Award for Best Director. It also won two other Academy Awards and was nominated for four more.

From Robert Zemeckis, starring Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt
Rated PG

"Contact" is a science fiction drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis, released in 1997. The film stars Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway, a SETI scientist who discovers evidence of extraterrestrial life on Earth. After years of searching, she is finally rewarded with a signal sent from the Vega star system, proving the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. Ellie is appointed as the leader of a mission to make contact with the extraterrestrials, funded by the U.S. government and other countries. While preparing for the journey, she is met with opposition from some religious groups and government officials who fear that contact with aliens could have catastrophic consequences. In the end, Ellie makes contact with the aliens, and is taken aboard their spacecraft to experience a beautiful journey of discovery and enlightenment. The film ends with Ellie returning to Earth, where the consequences of her experience are still unknown.

From Barry Sonnenfeld, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino, Vincent D'Onofrio
Rated PG-13

From Dan Trachtenberg, starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Gallagher Jr., Douglas M. Griffin
Rated PG-13

From Frank Darabont, starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher
Rated R

From J.J. Abrams, starring Elle Fanning, AJ Michalka, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney
Rated PG-13

From Michael Bay, starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson
Rated PG-13

From Roland Emmerich, starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell
Rated PG-13

From Josh Trank, starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly
Rated PG-13

From Greg Mottola, starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen, Mia Stallard
Rated R

From M. Night Shyamalan, starring Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix, Rory Culkin, Abigail Breslin
Rated PG-13

From Tim Burton, starring Jack Nicholson, Pierce Brosnan, Sarah Jessica Parker, Annette Bening
Rated PG-13